detoxing...

Good morning friends!  Once again I feel like I need to apologize for being gone so long, but that's ridiculous.  You guys love me right?  You know I've been busy!  The shop closed last Friday and we are still stamping and working HARD to get these cuffs out to you.  Hopefully finishing up today:)  I'm in complete and utter awe at how God provides with every single opening.  We were right on track with our giving too.  The Graham Family was blessed and this thrills me to my toes.  Thank you!!

This opening felt a little different.  The Lord showed up in a big way like always, but I also felt the enemy lurking around.  It started the Sunday before the shop opened.  We had just heard the best message about prayer and Jabez.  He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted him his request (1 Chron 4:10).  

I left the service so encouraged and buoyed by God's word and His promises, but things also started feeling weird.  I could just sense attack.  Little chick cut her finger Monday morning and needed stitches.  Honey and I were tense with each other.  We had some hiccups with our remodeling projects.  And then I got a mean spirited note from some anonymous person.  Which by the way made the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Tell me this isn't just some dart from the enemy to discourage and defeat!  But in a weird way it gave me the assurance that we are heading in the right direction with Farmgirl Paints.  Powerful, promise-filled stamped words are circling the globe!! Light and love is being worn daily...visible.  Money is being raised to encourage and be a blessing, and the enemy isn't a fan.  But...greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).  No weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).  THESE are the words that kept going through my head.  So grateful for God's word and His reassurance and guidance.  What would we do without it!!


So in addition to all the shop hustle and bustle I've been doing a 14 day sugar detox.  And can I just say I was completely nutso taking this on while being completely overwhelmed with shop stuff, and yard and kitchen projects, but once again I felt God's hand on me and there has been a grace to making changes.  The timing is never going to be perfect.  Never!  But guess what??  I did it.  I can't believe I did it, but I did:)  I quit sugar for 2 weeks!!!  Despite being a little low energy I felt GREAT!

It ended on Sunday and I still haven't added back creamer, had a piece of bread, chips, crackers etc or any CHOCOLATE!!  Say what!!!!  I know.  With every fiber of my being I want to stay the course.  I'm loving my even keel levels.  I feel in control.  I'm not constantly snacking.  I don't think about food.  I'm eating vegetables.  THIS is MAJOR!  Like really major!!!  I drink black coffee.  Instead of sandwiches and chips I'm having sliced turkey or tuna with avocado.  Cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas and blueberries are my sweets:)  I have smoothies for breakfast and turkey soup for dinner.  And my favorite snack is a Paleo wrap with almond butter and a thinly sliced granny smith apple right before bed.  I've found the thing that has made my brain finally click over and I'm so excited.  I've lost about 5 pounds.  My face looks a little thinner.  It's good.  So here is my turkey soup recipe:

This is the doubled version of my 

AWESOME Turkey Soup recipe:

2 pounds ground turkey

one package frozen onion

2 cans diced tomatoes with juice

2 boxes of reduced sodium chicken broth

2 packages frozen broccoli, carrots, cauliflower mix

garlic...maybe a tsp or so

Cajun spice, salt and pepper to taste

Brown the ground turkey...get it good and brown.  Cook with onions and garlic until soft and smells really good.  Add to the simmering chicken broth, tomatoes, vegetable mix.  Season with salt and pepper and Cajun spice to taste.

If you want to sign up for your own Detox group click here for more information. I highly suggest it..  Marta provides all the information you need, helpful articles, recipes and an online support group to encourage and motivate along the way:)

Be a blessing,

just a few of the mannnyyyy thankfuls...

cutest new pillow in the history of ever. made from a vintage fabric calendar.  

sunsets that remind me this earth is NOT my home.

a new chalk wall in my kitchen. creativity BLISS!!  

the best customers/ig followers in the world! what a beautiful support group the Lord has provided!!

the beautiful blur

Okay friends this is the last of PNW pics.  I hate to even say that.  I've so enjoyed going through all my memories, because to be honest while I'm there it's a complete blur.  From the minute I step off the plane my friends scoop me up and take me from one beautiful fun adventure to the next. 


I saved this one for last because it was kind of the perfect Lissa day.  Knowing my friend she had thought about this day for months...wanting the weather to be perfect...for the market to be open.  I'm sure she planned out the ideal lunch spot and the exact course of our walk.  She knew just what to make me for dinner to make my eyes roll to the back of my head.  I know she did...cause I know her.  And that's what friends do.  They want to make life special.  My girls did not fail me.  They blessed me to my toes, and this trip is one I will never forget.

We hit the farmer's market.  Which I might add is just a short little walk from Lissa's house...can you say spoiled rotten??  Oh and while we were there we just happened to run into her entire family and most of her church congregation!! I have to say that made me really happy for her.  What a luxury of having her people close by...of running into those who know your name...know your story....who love you.  I miss that.

I got the most fragrant melon you have ever ever smelled!  I picked it up to kind of mock Lissa and I was like OH MY WORD... I must have this melon.  It was hilarious.  Needless to say this sweet little melon found it's entire being in my belly later in the day;)

 

After the market we walked to lunch and then down to the beach.  She lives right on Puget Sound.  She has a beach she can walk to!!   Can you imagine??  We did nothing but act like dorks and took a million pics of each other on the gorgeous driftwood.  It was really fun...and laid back.  As a matter of fact peace is the word I would use to describe the day...FULL OF PEACE.

 

 

Then we came home and I sat in her kitchen...I kid you not...for 6 hours.  Sounds dreadful right??  To sit in one space for 6 hours...NOT dreadful in the least.  I was mesmerized while she cooked for me.  I love to watch people cook.  LOVE it!  It's weird because I don't like to cook at all.  Not even a little bit.  Strange. 

 

 

 (this is the recipe she made me...SO SO GOOD!)

 

 

Lissa however loves to cook.  It's how she blesses and loves on her people.  I was more than happy to oblige this deep seated desire in her;)  I was happy to let her fuss over me, and to make a meal that seriously did make me moan just a little. 

 

 

I had good company.  I had magical light.  I had Oscar;)  What more could I need??

The day...the entire trip...it truly was a beautiful blur:)

 

 

 

 

 

Be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

828.  from the soul...food

829.  friends that are truly family

830.  peaceFULL days

831.  sand, surf and all things beachy

832.  the blur of too many good things

 

 

me artsy

I am all hyped up on caffeine right now girlies, so bear with me:)  It's been a weird week.  Revisiting the past with my last post put me in kind of a tailspin.  You all know I'm a nut like that.  So along with going down memory lane it made me re-evaluate my present and future, and to be honest I think I'm having a mini midlife crisis.  I won't be looking for a new man or buying a fancy sportscar anytime soon, but I do feel the need for CHANGE.

I'm SO not where I want to be in a few areas of my life. I'm feeling a little bored. HATE that word, but it's true. There is a giant hole of usefullness that needs filled up in me and it's probably due to a whole slew of things...big move, kids are getting more independant and don't need me as much, there's a master list staring at me and I never seem to get anything done etc... Regardless I'm keenly aware that I'm pregnant with SOMETHING and dangit I want that BABY. I need something to nuture, to take care of...to pour myself into...to make me feel ALIVE! Does any of this make sense, or have I really gone off the deep end??

And no I'm not actually pregnant.  I just had the lovely annual visit today.  So fun meeting a new doctor for the first time...NOT:/

I've mentioned this before, but it's worth restating...I LOVE INSTAGRAM.  It has become a big deal to me.  It's so fun connecting with people so quickly and easily.  I love looking at pictures.  It's revolutionary!!!!  If you don't have it...GET IT.  It's super cool. 


This month I've been doing the photo a day thing.  It just a fun way to keep you snapping pics.  Today's word was addiction.  So that got me thinking about stuff I enjoy and I've noticed a little theme.  Outside of my obvious biggest loves of my family and the Lord, I love stuff that I can control...that is all me.  For instance Pinterest.  Uh ME!!!!!  Blogging...ME!  Instagram...ME!!!!!!!!  Not sure if that's a bad thing, but I see a common link.

And here they all are in one pic;)  My phone, computer...oh and my new fav drink...thank you sweet friend for telling me about it.

Mix 1/3C coconut milk, 1/2C chocolate almond milk, 1 1/2 scoops chocolate protein powder, 1/2-1T instant coffee and some ice cubes and maybe a little water.  SHAKE AND FEEL THE RUSH!!!!  Never been an iced coffee drinker, but I crave this.  I NEED this to get me through the afternoon.  It's good.



*****BTW this recipe will be my last for awhile.  I'm officially done with "FEED MY FAMILY FRIDAY"!  I've got something else in mind.  It's fun and it's ME;)

One area that I would like to be doing more with is my creative side.  My paintbrushes miss me.  They do...I know it.  I believe with all my heart that if you just start making stuff the inspiration comes.  And Lord knows I need some of that, so I'm starting a new thing called Me ARTSY!  Every now and then I'm going to post a craft link up.  It won't be every week, because I HATE deadlines and nothing squashes my creativity more than knowing on Friday I have to write a post about ____________!  So keep your eyes peeled. 



I saw this little dog notebook at Target the other day.  SO cute!  Anyway it inspired me to do a paper craft of my sweet dog Fergie.  I haven't started yet.  Hope it turns out cute.  Join me if you like.   I'll post on it soon and you can link up with me. 

Have a blessed day.

668.  my first "fruit" of the year;)  i ate it in three bites.

669.  going to the beach again this weekend.  cannot wait!

670.  my breakfast date this morning

671.  BIG BROTHER

672.  our first moonwalk with the creepy "sheep herd frog" sound.  scared the crap out of us, but made a memory

master list and avocado burgers

One of the first things I do in the morning is check my phone. I delete a ton of junk emails, and then I check in with my Instagram friends. They are usually bright eyed and bushy tailed, most showing pics of steamy mugs of coffee and underlined scripture passages. It makes me smile. It makes me line up in thought. It makes me want to crack open my own Bible to see what God has for me.

John 15 is where it fell open this morning, and it was just what I needed.  I've been making lists.  I have several actually.  My master list is staring at me right now.  It's funny Alicia and I were just talking about this over the weekend. 


We've got dreams and things we would love to see happen in our lives and we want to figure it all out.  We've got to have a PLAN.  The problem is I have SO many things that I don't even know where to begin.  I'm not sure where to start and so I don't.  My list just sits on my desk teasing me.  When I was reading this passage this morning the "apart from me you can't do a thing," caught my eye. 


Maybe I've been planning (list making) a little too much.  Maybe I've been turning my wheels and not figuring out how to begin because I haven't really asked HIM for direction or help.  Maybe I'm a big useless branch that needs pruning back a bit to become stronger?  Regardless, it made me stop for a minute and realign.  I want to be fruitful.  I want a harvest...a BIG ONE, but I can't do it alone. I just can't.




The other day we decided to paint some farm animals.  I set up a table for the girls in my workroom and off they went...paint brushes flying.  By the time it was all said and done there were tears...big giant crocodile tears of frustration. 


Usually these feelings are reserved for me, but today it was my chicks;)  Both of them were so disappointed in their art work.  I kept telling them it's only paint, you can paint over it.  But in the back of my mind I'm thinking I totally get it.  How am I supposed to tell them to calm down and not worry about their craft when I do the same thing almost every time I create something??

[A quiet little spot we found in Williamsburg this week.]

Having a vision and not knowing how to get it to look like what you have in mind is frustrating.  We don't always know how to get from point A to point B.  We want it to wrap up all nice and neat and sometimes it just looks like a giant mess.  That's usually when I want to quit or never begin in the first place.  There is some fear involved with having dreams.  There is the potential to fail...to feel defeated or just plain rejected.  But what if...WHAT IF...we give it over...tie into the "vine" and expect HIS MASTER LIST to unfold??  It says our cup of joy will overflow!  OVERFLOW!!!!  I know I'm ready for that. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Okay people this is good. 

Like get out a pen and paper right now GOOD.  These are my friend

Suzanne's Avocado Burgers.  She made them for us for dinner once and we were moaning and our eyes were rolling in the back of our heads. 

You'll need:
2 pounds of ground beef
1 mashed avocado
4 oz. can of diced green chilies (I didn't have this...substituted for half a can of green enchilada sauce)
1/4 cup chopped green onion (didn't have this either)
2 cloves of garlic minced (I used garlic from a jar)
1T of lemon pepper
1t of salt


Mash the avocado and mix all the other ingredients together.  Grill over medium heat for 5-7 minutes.  Top with shredded cheese.  Serve on toasted bun...makes 8 patties.

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You know the drill. If you want to party, grab my button, link up to a recipe post and let's FEED OUR FAMILIES:)

Have a blessed day.

656.  Lenina's bruschetta

657.  a prayer request being answered

658.  alone time with my big chick

659.  the porch swing being fixed by my honey

660.  cooler weather this week

661.  the fabulous amy bramer is finally opening her vintage inspired etsy shop today...check it out!!!!  it's gonna be great:)

memory lane and lemon squares

It's such an interesting mix of emotions when we go home.  It's the tug of remembering...the pull of the past.  We always ALWAYS walk down memory lane.  I'm a sap.  What can I say.  I breathe deep gulping in the air, running my hands along the familar banister of home...noticing even the insignificant gravel under my feet.  I take in every little thing trying to imprint it in my memory forever.  I think that's why I take so many pictures.  I want to keep them forever.

There is always an undertone of sadness that comes.  I remember things younger...fresher.  Even neighbors and friends out and about, when I run into them all I can think is how they've changed.

I see it in my parents and how they've slowed. It mellows me. Makes me a little scared. I know it's life and that's how it's supposed to be, but I don't want to think about that rushing freight train of time. I want to think it will always be like this.

That I'll always have my sweet ones near...my folks to call on.  My girls hands in mine.  I know I'm in my prime.  These years right now are probably my finest.  It's true.  I don't want to waste a second.  I don't want to blink or it will be gone.

I was little yesterday.  I was the one running in the yard, playing in the barn.  I was giggling with my friends.  Not a care.  I had my mom and dad to rely on for everything.

Oh to preserve and cherish...to truly appreciate our loved ones and not take any of them for granted.  To fully live in the moment and not stress about the unknowns.  That would be the ultimate prize right?  I have to remind myself I only have grace for today.  There's no need to worry and ponder the future, but still I have that nagging sadness.  

I'm just not ready for change...for letting go...ever.

************************************************************************************

As promised my mom's melt in your mouth

lemon square recipe:

Step #1 Crust: 
1 cup flour
1 stick butter
1/4 cup confection sugar
(Mix together and use cookie sheet to press out firmly.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes)

Step #2 Filling: 
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons lemon juice
(Mix together and pour over baked crust and bake for 20 min.  Check at the end to make sure the edges don't burn.)  ENJOY!  This is my favorite thing my momma makes.  You will LOVE it!!!

<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.farmgirlpaints.blogspot.com"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="feed my family friday" src="http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu20/folly_surf_fisher/feedmyfamily-1.jpg" /></a>

Share a recipe with us.  Grab my button and link up to your recipe post.  Let's FEED OUR FAMILIES:)

Have a blessed day.

 

640.  FINALLY finding a hair lady

641.  sleepovers for the girls

642.  my little chick reconnecting with a mn friend today

643.  lemon squares...family recipes

644.  sleeping in every morning